Proposals to create a state-of-the-art centre of excellence for people with dementia in Fradley near Lichfield took a great leap forward as the planning application was submitted.

A site has been acquired off Bridge Farm Lane, Fradley, for the proposed multi-million pound flagship centre which is being developed by Symphony – a consortium made up of Accord, Housing Association and Engie who are working in partnership with Staffordshire County Council. The project has been designed by InDesign, Accord’s in-house, award-winning architects practice. The outcome of the application should be announced in July and it also includes an adjacent development of housing for sale..

The Centre of Excellence will provide a brand new scheme for Fradley comprising of a communal hub with café/foyer, kitchen, hairdressing salon and a meeting room. Care will be provided within six households, each with a communal kitchen, dining area, lounge and access to gardens and outdoor space. Each household will offer 15 individual en-suite bedrooms, and the centre will be home to up 90 people. The scheme promises to transform care and support for residents and their families, with a specialist team who will work alongside people with dementia, 24 hours a day, delivering personalised and quality care, support

“This is a really exciting partnership with Staffordshire County Council and Engie, and we are delighted to be at the first stage of delivering this dementia centre of excellence for Lichfield. Accord is a leader in dementia excellence and has a successful track record of running services for those with dementia around a person-centred care model called the Eden Alternative, upon which the new centre is based.”

She added:

“We are also grateful for the continuing support of Homes England who have provided grant funding of £2,670,000 to this project for the benefit of older people in Lichfield and surrounding areas.”

“Dementia is one of the biggest challenges facing the whole country, and it is essential that effective care and support is provided. In Staffordshire, we are moving in the right direction in terms of offering the best possible care for people living with dementia and their families.

The dementia centre of excellence in Fradley will absolutely transform the way people receive care and support. There has been really positive support for the scheme from the local community, and the new centre demonstrates how the county council is driving forward innovative, high quality dementia care.”

Staffordshire County Council and Symphony will continue to work closely with customers, families and colleagues to allow the smooth transfer from existing schemes, Meadrowrythe and Bracken House, into the new dementia centre of excellence over the next eighteen months.